DOCUMENTED ESSAY CHECKLIST

DO YOU:

__1) Open with an effective hook and support a clearly stated thesis with a minimum of three body paragraphs (which correspond to the  introduction or essay map) with evidence that is adequate in amount and  specificity? 

__2) Provide clear topic sentences for each paragraph?  Your topic sentences should correspond to your essay map, refer back to the thesis and introduce and summarize the point to be proven and evidence to follow in each paragraph. 

__3) Use transitions throughout your paper?  Your topic sentences should include transitional phrases such as "First," "In addition"  and "Not only . . . but also." Within paragraphs use transitions to move  smoothly from one piece of evidence to another ("For example,"  "Furthermore," "In addition," etc., or, for points of comparison ("In contrast," "However," "On the other hand").  See Kirszner, p. 66.

__4) Proofread? Regardless of who has typed the paper, the final manuscript is your responsibility. Edit your paper, correcting errors in  typing, grammar, mechanics, and spelling.  Check for errors which have recurred  on your previous essays.  You may make minimal, neat corrections using whiteout and black ink.

Documentation Checklist: (To avoid accidental plagiarism)

DO YOU:

__1) Provide correct attribution tags (signals, lead-ins) in each  sentence introducing the source of evidence in that sentence?  See Kiszner pp. 164-175 and Eschholz 4

__2) Provide the correct parenthetical citation to the page  number if taken from a print source or to the author's last name when taken from  an electronic source?  The information in the parenthesis must be sufficient to  guide the reader to the correct citation in your alphabetized list of Works  Cited. See Kirszner p. 219 and models.

__3) Provide the complete name of author and title for first introduction of a source and author's last name throughout the rest of paper?

__4) Use quotations around all directly quoted words from your  sources? 

__5) Smoothly integrate key terms quoted from the original source into a paraphrase or summary?

__6) Achieve stylistic sophistication by varying the location of lead-ins or attribution tags at the beginning, middle, or end of sentences, and by varying verbs?  See Kirszner, p. 164.